When buyers are comparing homes often the decision to buy is determined by which house offers the most features that the buyer is looking for, at the pricepoint they are prepared to pay.
When sellers are getting ready to list their homes, their Agent will ask them for a list of features and inclusions. Usually the agent will do a walk through of the home, making notes of the highlights of the home. The agent will also point out suggestions to make the home show to its best. I always ask my sellers what it was about their home that made them decide to buy it.
Often I will take those reasons and note them in the feature sheet or in an advertisement or internet remarks. It's important to know the difference between new and newer, updated and renovated. A renovated kitchen usually means that the whole kitchen has been replaced. Updated could mean only new countertops and appliances, for example.
It's important to be clear when advertising these features. Is 5 year old carpet new or newer? What about 10 year old kitchen cabinets?
It's a known fact that the more features a home offers, the more likely the home will sell quickly for top dollar. Buyers will visit a number of homes on the market and compare what each home has to offer.
Here are some top features that today's buyers desire in a home.
1. Fireplace
2. Hardwood and ceramic flooring
3. Deck or patio
4. Fenced and landscaped yard
5. Walkin or large closets
6. Air Conditioning
7. New(er) windows and roof
8. Updated kitchen and baths
9. Home Office
10. Private Yard - Quiet Street
There are often features in a home that the seller wants to obtain a return on investment but the buyer doesn't see the value. If a seller pays extra to install a roof with a 40 year instead of a 25 year life expectancy, the buyer is not usually willing to pay. The same goes for extra insulation, indoor hot tubs, saunas, cedar closets and even swimming pools.
If the buyer isn't really looking for a home with these features but they happen to be in place they will not be deemed as features, especially if the buyer plans to remove or make changes to these items.
Every buyer has their list of needs and wants. Most have to make compromises as most buyers are working within a budget. If your home is on the market and it shows well, has desirable features and is priced correctly you have a very good chance that it won't take long before that For Sale sign flips over to Sold.
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